Expansionist Nationalism and Ethnic Nationalism

This lesson examines two of the most destructive forms of nationalism: expansionist nationalism and ethnic nationalism. These strands demonstrate how nationalism can be perverted from a progressive force for self-determination into an aggressive, exclusionary, and even genocidal ideology.

---

Expansionist Nationalism

Definition

Expansionist nationalism is a form of nationalism that seeks to extend the nation's power, territory, and influence beyond its existing borders. It goes beyond self-determination (governing yourself) to domination (governing others).

Core Features

Feature	Description
National superiority	The nation is believed to be inherently superior to others — in culture, race, or destiny
Territorial expansion	The nation has a right (or duty) to expand its territory to include all members of the nation, or to acquire resources and strategic advantages
Militarism	Military power is central to national greatness; war is glorified as a test of national strength
Imperialism	The nation has a mission to civilise or dominate other peoples
Chauvinism	Extreme, irrational loyalty to the nation, combined with contempt for other nations

Historical Examples

1. German Expansionism (19th–20th century)

• Pan-Germanism sought to unite all German-speaking peoples in a single state.
• The concept of Lebensraum ("living space") was used by the Nazi regime to justify territorial expansion into Eastern Europe.
• Hitler's ideology combined ethnic nationalism, racial supremacy, and territorial expansion in its most extreme form — leading to World War II and the Holocaust.

2. Japanese Imperialism

• Japan pursued aggressive expansion in East Asia during the late 19th and early 20th centuries — conquering Korea, Manchuria, and much of Southeast Asia.
• Japanese expansionism was justified by a belief in Japan's racial and cultural superiority and its destiny to lead a "Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere."

3. Fascist Italy

• Mussolini's Italy pursued territorial expansion — invading Ethiopia (1935) and Albania (1939).
• Expansionism was linked to the idea of restoring the glory of the Roman Empire.

4. The "Scramble for Africa" (1880s–1900s)

• European powers — Britain, France, Germany, Belgium — competed to colonise Africa, justifying their actions through a combination of nationalism, racism, and the supposed "civilising mission."

The Relationship Between Nationalism and Imperialism

Expansionist nationalism blurs the line between nationalism and imperialism:

• Nationalism says: "Our nation should govern itself."
• Imperialism says: "Our nation should govern others."

The contradiction is clear — expansionist nationalists assert their own nation's right to self-determination while denying that right to others.

---

Ethnic Nationalism

Definition

Ethnic nationalism (also called ethno-nationalism) defines the nation in terms of shared ethnicity, descent, and blood ties. Membership of the nation is determined not by political choice or civic participation but by birth.

Core Features

Feature	Description
Ethnic identity	The nation is an ethnic community defined by common ancestry, race, or blood
Exclusion	Those who do not share the ethnic identity are excluded from full membership of the nation
Cultural purity	The nation's culture must be preserved against foreign influence and dilution
Homeland	The nation has an ancestral homeland that belongs exclusively to the ethnic group
Blood and soil (Blut und Boden)	A slogan of German ethnic nationalism, linking the nation to its racial bloodline and ancestral territory

Key Features That Distinguish Ethnic from Civic Nationalism